Whats On

On 20 August, the National Health & Medical Research Council
(NHMRC) finally released its first report on homoeopathy, produced in 2012.

After years
of NHMRC’s refusing to release the report and even denying its existence,
researchers, decision-makers and the general public can finally see the full
draft of the 2012 Homeopathy Review, in which the author concluded that there
is “encouraging evidence for the effectiveness of homoeopathy” in five medical
conditions.

It is
also interesting to note the clarification provided in the introductory cover
sheet by NHMRC CEO Prof Anne Kelso, that NHMRC’s second Homeopathy Review
published in 2015 “did not conclude that homeopathy was ineffective”, despite
claims to that effect in media reports and by anti-homoeopathy campaigners.

The 2012
draft report, The
Effectiveness of Homeopathy: an overview review of secondary evidence,
which can be viewed here,
has been heavily annotated by the NHMRC. It is left to our readers to judge
those annotations on their merit and question themselves why the NHMRC
considered it necessary to add them.

Rachel
Roberts, Chief Executive of the Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI UK)
comments, “For over three years NHMRC have refused to release their 2012 draft
report on homeopathy, despite Freedom of Information requests and even requests
by members of the Australian Senate. To see this document finally seeing the
light of day is a major win for transparency and public accountability in
research.” The HRI, which has been the AHA’s supporter and co-author of its
complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman, will carefully scrutinise the report
in the coming weeks.

Join these two workshops for a glimpse into the colour wisdom
and the understandings inherent in painting the Zodiac Colours of Rudolf
Steiner in relation to the Zodiac Elements of Fire Earth Air and Water.

Earlier this month ATMS CEO, Charles Wurf and ATMS Director, Christine
Pope, headed to Canberra to meet with politicians and lobby on behalf of
members and advance the review of the Natural Therapies Rebates.

ATMS are working with the Health Funds and how we’re positioning the return of
natural therapies to the rebate by April 2020. With the Review underway ATMS
will continue to work collaboratively across therapies and intends to submit
appropriate evidence sources to the Panel. With the establishment of the Panel,
and assuming sound Terms of Reference with appropriate standards of evidence,
ATMS looks forward to a positive review process.

As part of our continuing advocacy on behalf of members, ATMS met with members
of the government and the cross bench during our most recent visit to Canberra.
The purpose of our meetings is to confirm with government our vital interest in
the Review. ATMS continues to advocate that natural therapies should return to
their rightful place within the private health insurance system.

Dear Friends of Anthroposophic and Integrative Medicine and Therapy in Australia

Some of you may be aware of the current proposal from the Medical Board of Australia which would effectively lead to segregating doctors who provide integrative healthcare options for their patients from the main body of practitioners. This move is another in a series of co-ordinated campaigns to restrict access to holistic medical care and healthcare choice.

I received the email below from the group Your Health Your Choice. Because it simplifies the submission process, I am forwarding it on to you so that you can add your voice in response to the proposed changes. Just a note about the newsletter below, all the links take you to the same submission form. Please feel free to forward this email to colleagues and friends so that their voice can also be heard.

Paulo Moraes (Melbourne Therapy Centre)

The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) is proposing changes that threaten you and your family’s access to holistic medical care. The Your Health Your Choice organisation have made it easy for you to act on this important issue via this link. Read on for more details.

What’s this about?

The MBA is proposing new guidelines targeting doctors who integrate ‘complementary medicines and emerging treatments’ into their practice – without consulting them or their patients, or providing any evidence why the current guidelines need changing (e.g. real-world safety concerns).

The MBA is asking for public feedback before it adopts the new guidelines – as by law it has to. If you care about choice in healthcare, we urge you to make a submission (by 30 June 2019)

What’s at stake?

If adopted, the new guidelines could suppress clinical autonomy and see Integrative GP’s faced with restrictions on current treatments they offer that are not considered “conventional”. Restrictions could include doctors’ ability to recommend patients vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, natural therapies and a range of diagnostic tests. It also opens the door to doctors being targeted by vexatious complaints.

1 in 3 Australian GPs utilise some aspect of complementary medicine within their medical practice, as it offers patients greater choice to access a range of safe and effective integrative treatment options, improving clinical outcomes and reducing medical risk. It could even be argued that this is current conventional medicine.

By framing these treatments as ‘fringe’, the new MBA guidelines also place the regulated traditional medicine professions of chiropractic, osteopathy, Chinese medicine and acupuncture at risk. These changes unnecessarily target patients and health providers.

What you can do – we’ve made it easy:

Let the MBA know you support Option 1 – to maintain the current guidelines as well as why you value a holistic approach to healthcare and support doctors’ right to provide new and innovative approaches, including complementary medicine treatments.

Public pressure recently succeeded in moving Government on health fund rebates for natural therapies. Protect your right to healthcare here too. Give the MBA the feedback it is asking for by sharing your thoughts and experiences via https://www.yourhealthyourchoice.com.au/mba-submissions/

We will forward your submission to the MBA on your behalf. Thank you for your support.